'No proof' of Iranian nuclear weapons programme

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog today said he was not certain that Iran's nuclear ambitions were entirely peaceful - but added he had seen no evidence to back allegations that the country was attempting to build a bomb.

Speaking to reporters ahead of a closed door meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors about Iran, Mohammed ElBaradei said there was no smoking gun to back US claims that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons.

"Have we seen any proof of a weapons programme? Have we seen undeclared [uranium] enrichment? There is none of that," Mr ElBaradei said. "But are we in a position to say that everything is peaceful? Obviously we are not at this stage."

The IAEA board is this week considering a joint French, British and German resolution calling on it to make a final decision about Iran at a November meeting. It would have the option of referring Iran to the UN security council for sanctions if it still had doubts about its nuclear programme.

Iran, with Russian assistance and fuel, has been building civilian reactors to produce electricity, but the three European countries and the US fear it could produce weapons-grade fuel if it mines and enriches its own uranium.

The Europeans began a policy of "constructive engagement" with Tehran in October 2003 in an attempt it to persuade it end enrichment, but have shown signs of losing patience and moving towards Washington's position.

Iran promised to suspend its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for a wide range of "carrots" - including non-military nuclear and other technology and a guarantee that it could keep a peaceful atomic programme - but it has not yet done so.

Hossein Mousavian, the country's chief delegate at this week's IAEA meeting, yesterday adopted a defiant stance when he said Iran would begin enriching uranium very soon.

Diplomats said Iran and the three European countries were quietly negotiating behind the scenes, and would soon announce a more comprehensive suspension of Iran's enrichment programme.

Mr Mousavian told Reuters that Tehran wanted to bring the standoff over its nuclear programme to a head in November. "We have nothing against serious dialogue aimed at providing assurances that Iran's nuclear programme will never, never be diverted to military purposes," he said in an interview.

Mr ElBaradei said he hoped the resolution would prompt Iran and other countries to improve cooperation with the IAEA.

"It is important to acknowledge progress and say we would like to see accelerated cooperation by Iran [and] by the countries that have been involved," he said in a clear reference to Pakistan, which provided much of Tehran's previously secret uranium enrichment technology.

Iran claims traces of highly enriched uranium on its centrifuges were the result of contamination due to it buying the parts on the black market.